THE AERIAL DANCE DISCIPLINE INCLUDES:
Aerial Silks
Aerial Hoop
Special Aerial Apparatus
1. PURPOSE
International Aerial Dance Competition to proclaim the winners of the Euro-Asiatic Final of the World Festival-Competition of National Culture and Arts, open to amateur and professional athletes aged 8 and up registered with AICS or other Promotion Bodies, Federations, Associations, or private individuals. These regulations are mandatory for all participants in the “World Competition Of Dance Peoples and Cultures.” Failure to comply with the rules will result in disqualification from the competition.
2. PARTICIPATION TERMS
The International Final is open to scholarship winners obtained in in-person selections organized across the national territory, listed at: https://www.worldancecompetition.it/select/ or via Video Entry.
IMPORTANT: Category winners are exempt from further selections and have direct access to the final because the regulation allows them to move directly to the next level category.
3. APPARATUS
Participants may compete in the following apparatus divisions:
SILKS – SOLO/DUO
HOOP – SOLO/DUO
SPECIAL APPARATUS – SOLO/DUO
SILKS: Certified silks available. Total length: 8m. Hung with swivel.
HOOP: Certified, padded hoops hung from a single anchor point with a 1.5m tubular closed-loop polyester spanset in black and with swivel. Ø: 85cm, 90cm, 95cm, and 100cm.
MATS: The use of a mat is mandatory for all participants. Dimensions: 2m x 2m
4. CATEGORIES
Participants may compete in the following AGE GROUPS:
MINI: FROM 8 to 11 YEARS
YOUTH: FROM 12 TO 17 YEARS
JUNIOR: FROM 18 TO 29 YEARS
OVER JUNIOR: FROM 30 TO 45 YEARS
SENIOR: FROM 45 YEARS AND UP
If the minimum number of three registrants in the same age group is not reached, it will be merged into the higher or lower group. For example, from junior to senior or vice versa.
LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY: Each person's experience depends on many factors; it is difficult to regulate experience levels universally but it is necessary to protect each participant. For example: some individuals with 5 years of aerial training may be Amateur, while others may be Elite, depending on type of training, consistency, etc. General guidelines will be provided in section 5 “Required Movements by Category.”
AMATEUR: artists with at least 3 years of apparatus experience and/or who have achieved the required movements for this category. Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION without apparatus assistance.
PROFESSIONAL: artists with at least 5 years of apparatus experience and/or who have achieved the required movements for this category. Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION with straight legs.
ELITE: artists with more than 5 years of apparatus experience and/or who have achieved the required movements for this category. Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION with extended arms.
DUO: categorized only by age group. The duo may be mixed and from different age groups, but must register under the age group of the older athlete. Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION with straight legs.
SPECIAL AERIAL APPARATUS: NEW CAT!! categorized only by age group. As a special category, there are no required movements.
5. AERIAL DANCE EVALUATION CRITERIA
Technical and Artistic – Scoring from 1 to 10 (including half-points).
Artistic:
Stage presence and interpretation
Costume
Movement quality
Choreographic coherence
Creativity
Musicality
Technical:
Execution of the required movements
ARTISTIC CRITERIA DURING PERFORMANCE:
Stage Presence / Interpretation:
Evaluation begins the moment the performer enters the stage. Every gesture visible to the audience and jury counts – from adjusting the fabric, hoop or mat, to exiting the stage. Body and facial expressiveness, mood, and atmosphere are crucial. It’s important to choose how to carry yourself, where to look, how fast to walk — and to remember to breathe...
Costume:
It should not be used to compensate for artistic or technical gaps. A simple, comfortable costume that doesn’t hinder movement or hide body lines is preferred.
Movement Quality:
Beyond clean execution of technical elements, transitions must be fluid. Movement quality is essential — it must be intentional and meaningful within the performance. Rigidity expresses one thing, a relaxed body something else entirely...
Choreographic Coherence:
A floor section is not mandatory, but if present, it must be polished. A walk “with presence” is better than a series of unmotivated acrobatic moves. The transition between floor and air is fundamental. Neglecting the ascent or descent from the apparatus compromises the whole performance. Props: if brought on stage, they must be used. Otherwise, they may be penalized.
Creativity:
Magic, originality, inspiration, imaginative movement... Everyone has personal qualities that can be expressed and valued — including shyness, nervousness, or awkwardness. Aerial dance isn’t only for elegant and flexible princesses.
Rhythm and Musicality:
Pauses, breathing, changes in speed and movement quality make a performance engaging. Musicality is not just adherence to the music — it’s how the body plays with it.
TECHNICAL CRITERIA DURING PERFORMANCE:
REQUIRED MOVEMENTS BY CATEGORY
AERIAL SILKS – AMATEUR
Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION without apparatus assistance
| QUANTITY | REQUIRED | PENALIZATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexibility exercise | Extreme flexibility |
| 1 | Strength exercise | Extreme strength exercise |
| – | High-level balances | – |
| 1 | Drop | Reverse with straight arms and legs |
| OPTIONAL | Ground section (theatrical, choreographic, acrobatic, etc.) | Soleil, roll down or roll up High-level dynamic moves Free falls or regrips |
AERIAL SILKS – PROFESSIONAL
Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION with straight legs
| QUANTITY | REQUIRED EXERCISES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexibility with 180° legs or 45° backbend | with 20° tolerance |
| 2 | Different strength exercises | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 1 | Drop | – |
| 1 | Soleil and/or star drop | Minimum 2 rotations |
| OPTIONAL | Ground section | – |
| PENALTY | ELITE CATEGORY BONUS MOVEMENTS | – |
AERIAL SILKS – ELITE*
Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION using arm strength with extended arms
| QUANTITY | REQUIRED EXERCISES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexibility with 180° legs | No tolerance |
| 1 | 45° backbend flexibility | No tolerance |
| 1 | Balance | Held for min. 4 seconds |
| 1 | Strength exercise | Held for min. 4 seconds |
| 1 | Soleil, Roll down | Minimum 2 rotations |
| 1 | Free fall or “escape with hands”, 1-hand regrip | – |
| FREE | Dynamic tricks, spins | – |
| OPTIONAL | Ground section | – |
(*) Bonus applicable
AERIAL HOOP – AMATEUR
Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION without apparatus assistance
| QUANTITY | REQUIRED | PENALIZATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexibility exercise | Extreme flexibility |
| 1 | Strength exercise | Extreme strength |
| 1 | Balance | Strength-based reverse with extended arms and legs |
| 1 | Grip | Regrip |
| FREE | Fluidity & Transitions | Roll |
| OPTIONAL | Ground section (theatrical, choreographic, acrobatic, etc.) | High-level spinning High-level dynamic movements |
AERIAL HOOP – PROFESSIONAL
Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION using strength with straight legs
| QUANTITY | REQUIRED EXERCISES | SPECIFICATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexibility with 180° legs | 20° tolerance |
| 1 | 45° backbend flexibility | 20° tolerance |
| 1 | Strength exercise | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 1 | Balance | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 2 | Grips | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 1 | Drop | – |
| FREE | Fluidity & Transitions | – |
| OPTIONAL | Ground section | – |
| PENALTY | ELITE CATEGORY BONUS MOVEMENTS | – |
AERIAL HOOP – ELITE*
Minimum required: REVERSE OR AERIAL INVERSION using arm strength with extended arms
| QUANTITY | REQUIRED EXERCISES | SPECIFICATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flexibility with 180° legs | No tolerance |
| 1 | 45° backbend flexibility | No tolerance |
| 1 | Strength exercise | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 1 | Balance | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 2 | Grips | Held for a minimum of 4 seconds |
| 1 | Roll | Minimum 2 rotations |
| 1 | Drop, 1-hand regrip, flip or somersault to the mat | – |
| FREE | Fluidity & Transitions | – |
| FREE | Dynamic tricks | – |
| FREE | Spins | – |
| OPTIONAL | Ground section (theatrical, choreographic, acrobatic, etc.) | – |
(*) Bonus applicable
BONUS – ELITE CATEGORY
Only one exercise per group will be evaluated, and only if performed correctly — but competitors are free to execute more than one.
| APPARATUS | GROUP | DESCRIPTION | VALUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| SILKS | 1 | Extreme flexibility of legs or back | 1 |
| 2 | Extreme strength exercise (min. 4 sec): – Planche – Back flag – Split transition |
2 each | |
| 3 | Dislock | 2 | |
| 4 | Regrip: – 2 hands – 1 hand with somersault, flip, cartwheel – 2 hands with somersault or flip |
2 1 3 |
|
| 5 | Roll up (minimum 2 rotations) | 2 | |
| HOOP | 1 | Extreme flexibility of legs or back | 1 |
| 2 | Extreme strength (min. 4 sec): – One-hand crocodile – Planche – Back flag |
1 2 1 |
|
| 3 | "Brasilero" movement | 2 | |
| 4 | Regrip: – 2 hands – With flip or somersault |
2 3 |
DUO CATEGORY (Silks and Hoop)
Free routine.
Evaluation criteria will be separated into technical and artistic components.
SPECIAL AERIAL APPARATUS
This is considered a special category with no required movements.
The apparatus must be provided by the school or the artist.
This category is open to solo, duo, trio or more performers using one single apparatus hung from a single point.
Evaluation criteria will be distinguished between technical and artistic.
BONUS APPLICABLE TO ALL CATEGORIES (FINALS ONLY):
+3 Flow: quality of aerial movement with fluid sequences and transitions
+3 Ground-to-Air: logical and creative link between floor work and apparatus
+3 Balance: perfect balance between strength and flexibility
+3 Show: creative and original construction of performance and stage presence
PENALTIES
The jury may deduct up to 3 points for the following:
Arriving late
Failing to greet jury and audience (before or after performance)
Leaving the apparatus during the routine (unless it's part of the choreography)
Inappropriate costume
Performing technical elements prohibited for one’s category
Breach of regulation
6. DURATION OF EACH PERFORMANCE BY CATEGORY
| CATEGORY | MINIMUM TIME IN AIR | MAXIMUM DURATION |
|---|---|---|
| AMATEUR | 2:30 min | 3:30 min |
| PROFESSIONAL | 3:30 min | 4:30 min |
| ELITE | 4:30 min | 5:30 min |
| DUO | 3:00 min | 5:30 min |
Minimum time is calculated from the moment the artist mounts the apparatus.
Each music track must be sent via email in MP3 format.
Failure to send the music will result in disqualification without the possibility of a refund.
7. COSTUMES AND ACCESSORIES
No visible logos or branding
No dangerous accessories (e.g. rhinestones, jewelry)
Props must be safe and easy to remove
